Happy Birthday Dr Kalam: Six Inspiring Things about the People's President

Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam is arguably one of the best leaders India has ever had in its long history. Receiving support from both the ruling party and the opposition, he served as the 11th President of India from 2002 to 2007. It is not for nothing that he was given the title of ‘People’s President’. Here are six remarkable things Dr. Kalam achieved and taught the citizens of the country while serving as the President of India:

1. Syncretic President

Dr. Kalam was a strong advocator of communal harmony and brotherhood. He had frequently spoken about being brought up with a syncretic line of thought and inspired the country to imbibe the same with his speeches and way of life. Although being a Muslim by religion, Dr. Kalam revered all religions and often quoted from the Bhagavad Gita and the Quran alike. 

2. Passing the ‘Office of Profit’ Bill

Considered as the toughest decision Dr. Kalam took during his tenure, the passing of this bill did raise quite a lot of controversies then. He did have concerns regarding the ambiguous term ‘Office of profit’ - yet, he firmly stood by his decision. The bill bars the members of the Indian Parliament from holding an office that would give its occupant the opportunity to gain a financial advantage or benefit from the position.

3. Urban Amenities to Rural Areas (PURA) Trust

Dr. Kalam worked towards the welfare of the country, especially for the betterment of the rural communities, which formed the majority of the population. After knowing about the expenses of a president that the government had to bear, Dr. Kalam donated his salary, his savings, everything to the trust - Providing Urban Amenities for Rural Areas (PURA). The trust proposes urban infrastructure and facilities to be accessible in the rural areas of the country. This would in turn propose to create employment and economic opportunities in the area, beneficial for the country's growth in the long run. Dr Kalam believed that if the people are happy, the country would definitely prosper.

4. Denied any VVIP treatment

Throughout his Presidential term, Dr. Kalam declined any special treatments that he was entitled to being the President of the nation. Living with the mantra: ‘Simple living, high thinking’ - Dr. Kalam asked to lock up all the big, luxurious rooms at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. He chose to live in a small room, where he used to sleep and work. Apparently, he used to have his meals sitting on the floor, along with the rest of the staff.  Right after completing his term as the President, he humbly returned back to his normal life dedicated to teaching, research and public service.

5. Extraordinary Visionary

Passionate about transforming society with technology, Dr. Kalam looked forward to envisioning a bright future for India. His vision and ideas are prominent in his books, ‘Wings of Fire’ and ‘India 2020’. He believed in the power of the youth, who were capable of doing anything for the nation - if their energies were directed in the right direction.

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A scientist by profession, Dr. Kalam had worked at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). He played a pivotal role in the advancements of military missiles - developing ballistic missile and launching vehicle technology - owing to which he came to be known as the ‘Missile Man of India’. Dr. Kalam was also involved extensively in the nuclear tests conducted at Pokharan (1998) - overseeing the organization, technicalities and also handling the government. He has received countless awards and honorary degrees from over 40 universities globally. Dr. Kalam has received the 'Padma Bhushan', 'Padma Vibhushan' and 'Bharat Ratna'.

Despite carrying out innumerable feats as a scientist, researcher, social activist, writer, and serving as the President of India, Dr. Abdul Kalam wanted to be remembered as a teacher.

Dr Kalam breathed his last on July 27, 2015, minutes after delivering a speech at the Indian Institute of Management, Shillong . His birthday, October 15, is recognized as the 'World Students Day'.

Simple as he was, the ‘Missile Man’ did teach us the way of life. Here to the extraordinary man and a great teacher - Happy Birthday Dr. Kalam!